Improvement in sewing-machine housings



T. A. WILSON.

I SEWING-MACHINE HOUSING. No. 190.658 Patented May 8,1877.

Witnesses N-PETERS, PHOTO-UTHDGRAFHER. WASHINGTON D C UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE...

THOMAS A. WILSON, OF GRAYSON, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN SEWING-MACHINE HOUSINGS.

Specification forming partof Letters Patent No. 190,658, dated May 8, 1877; application filed January 15, 1877.

clare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to a permanent housing or cover for sewing-machines, the object of which is to conceal the motion of the needlearm or other moving mechanism from the sight of the operator.

It is a conceded fact that the human eyesight is wearied, and sometimes seriously affected, by being long directed at a rapidly moving object, and this is especially the case wherethe motion is so quick and reciprocatory as to amount to a vibration, as in the case of the needle-arm or other moving mechanism of a sewing-machine.

Operators of sewing-machines must necessarily keep their eyes directed upon the work in front of them. The quick and continual vibratory motion of the needle-arm is, therefore, very trying to the eyesight, because the eye cannot take in the motion directly by steadily gazing upon it; but the glitter of the motion or vibration is continually present, and the sight of operators is often eriously affected thereby.

The object of my invention, therefore, is to conceal this objectionable motion by covering the needle-arm, or other quick-moving piece of mechanism, with a housing or cover, which will shield the eyes, and at the same time will not interfere with the movements or operation of the machine.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, let A represent the table of a sewing-machine. B is the presser or stationary arm, and O the needle-arm.

To conceal the vibratory motion of the needle-arm I construct a cover or housing, D, that can be attached to the stationary or presser arm of the machine, so as to cover the needle-arm when it is in motion without interfering with its movements.

This cover or shield can be made and attached in various ways but I prefer to hinge two curved plates together along one edge, as represented, and attach one of the plates to the stationary or presser-arm, so that the hinged or free plate will drop down over the needle-arm and hang upon the opposite side. The junction of the plates or hinged line is high enough above the needle-arm to allow it to rise and fall when in operation without coming in contact with the cover.

I make a hole in the stationary plate, through which the lever G, which raises the presserfoot, passes so that the lever will project out side of the case or cover, and thus permit the operator to control the presser-foot.

This shield or cover will effectually conceal the objectionable motion, and will not interfere with the ready adjustment of any of the parts which require it, as the hinged leaf of the shield can be lifted up so as to expose the needle-arm when desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

The hinged cover or housing B, in combination with a sewing-machine arm, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

THOS. A. WILSON. [L. 8.]

Witnesses:

W. B. HOWARD, L. C. BRANCH. 

